All In The Details, Pt. 1

This shot of the white swans in the Disneyland Sleeping Beauty Castle moat from approximately 1957 yields some interesting info. When zooming in, you can see the banner promoting the Richfield Autopia Fantasyland Autopia. Yes, the myths are true. There were once multiple Autopia attractions at Disneyland!



Don’t believe me? Just take a look at this December 1956 image:



I’ve always wondered if that Eagle “landed” anywhere?



Back to the first image…if you shifted your camera to the right, you would see the Monsanto House of the Future, as long as it was June 1957. I am guessing the swan shot was taken before construction on the HOF had begun.



This panorama from December 1956 gives you an idea of what the area surrounding the moat looked like at that time.



No Matterhorn…no Snow White Wishing Well…no House of the Future. Just a mound of dirt and some trees, “themed” as Holiday Hill, Lookout Mountain, Snow Hill, and unofficially “Lover’s Lane.”



Snow White’s Wishing Well joined the landscape here in 1961:





So many tangents from one image.

See more vintage & contemporary Disneyland photos at my main website.

Oom Pah Pah in Fantasyland

A little Oom Pah Pah to start off the work week courtesy of Disneyland's Matterhorn Band. This August 1962 image shows the positioned between the Matterhorn and the Fantasyland Autopia.

The two boys in this detailed view look mesmerized.



Here's a previously posted November 1963 shot of Fred Burri, Disneyland Yodeler:



And a July 1968 of the Band outside the back of the Castle:



More Fantasyland Autopia photos at my main website.

The Autopia, 1950's-style

Today’s first photo of the Tomorrowland Autopia is from the same March 1956 batch as yesterday’s post. In the background is the Mickey Mouse Club Circus tent, still lingering even though Mickey Mouse no longer inhabited by the tent by this time. However, as Jason from Parkendium pointed out, the large tent was gone by January 1956, which means this slide was shot earlier (and developed in March). 

The next two shots are from one year later, where we see Roddy & Sharon...



and Jennifer & Caroline zipping around the track, with the Fantasyland Depot behind them.



More Autopia photo fun at my main website.

TPE: The OTHER Autopias!

Today at Disneyland, there is one Autopia. However, back in the day, it almost seemed like there were Autopias EVERYWHERE! There was the Tomorrowland Autopia, The Fantasyland Autopia/Junior Autopia (1956—1999), and finally...the politically incorrect Midget Autopia (April 23, 1957 to 1966)! I would definitely want to see first-hand each and every one of these alternative Autopias.

Here you can see both Fantasyland and Midget Autopia tracks, as well as The Viewliner:



A few shots from the Fantasyland/Junior Autopias:













Note that the Omnibus once traveled into Tomorrowland/Fantasyland:



And the Midget Autopia:





My favorite part of this attraction is seeing the gleeful abandon on the faces of these little tots. It is so refreshing. Kids need more of that today.



























See more vintage & current Autopia photos on my Autopia web page.

Glorious 1950’s Black & White, Pt. 5

Dipping into the batch of black and white negatives I posted a few weeks ago we find this detailed shot of the Fantasyland Autopia. Zooming in for the attraction queue and a look at the signage (of course I couldn't resist!):



Any ideas as to what this construction is for? The Viewliner?



From the Skyway, the photographer got a few Storybook Land & Casey Junior shots:



Watch out for spitballs!



Know anybody taking this journey through Storybook Land?



As we head closer to Fantasyland, our Skyway Bucket takes us by the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship Restaurant. Hungry for a Tuna Boat?





Last one from the Skyway journey shows Fantasyland:



This marks the end of this particular B&W series. Stay tuned for more in the future! Or…just visit my regular website!

In the land of color, the latest installment of the “Tinker Bell” series will be released next Tuesday. Thumbs up again for “Tinker Bell and The Great Fairy Rescue.” I haven’t expected much from any of the three movies, and with each one, I find myself disappointed that they didn’t get a full theatrical release. This movie also explains the whole Tinker Bell talks issue, and should resolve it for those who have been angry about her being given a voice. The outdoor premiere of Disney’s All-New Movie “Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue” was screened for more than 1,000 families in the local Los Angeles area. The event featured a dozen of L.A.’s most popular food trucks (including Top Chef alum Brian Hill’s) along with a bevy of activity stations for the kids such as face painting, Tink tattoos, coloring stations, and Radio Disney (who emceed the event). All fairy attendees received Tinker Bell blankets, Tinker Bell glow sticks, Fairy wings and enjoyed many Fairy activities.